QRC, HMC sign accord for deafness treatment

The Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) and Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) have signed an agreement to implement the “Treatment for hearing impairment and deafness” project.The agreement was signed by QRC secretary-general Ali Hassan al-Hammadi and HMC’s Audiology and Balance Center head Dr Khalid Abdul Hadi. Under the agreement, QRC through the Patient Benefit Fund will provide support and treatment to the hearing impairment and deafness patients, and cover the costs of medical aids from equipment and treatment, while the HMC’s Audiology and Balance Center will provide treatment and operations for the targeted cases, as well education and medical guidance.Al-Hammadi said that the agreement would provide care for the needy people with hearing impairment and deafness, pointing out that there have been many referrals, including individuals and families.He noted that while Qatar is keen to provide the best medical services to all patients, the role of QRC is to co-operate with state institutions to extend the social safety of this particular group of society, support them, and also help them to endure the hardships.The QRC secretary-general praised the co-operation with HMC in fields of training, social and medical projects implemented by QRC in Qatar, which achieve the desired development purpose, in accordance with the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030.Dr Abdul Hadi praised the co-operation between HMC and QRC in the framework of the community partnership, stressing that the agreement aims to alleviate the suffering of patients unable to perform cochlear implants and other hearing aids. He said that QRC has provided financial support to more than 60 cases so far. It is expected that the number of cochlear implants in Qatar will increase in the coming period.Dr Khalid Abdul Hadi pointed out that the electronic cochlear devices provided by HMC for patients, are one of the latest devices available, while Qatar is one of the first countries in the region that began the national programme for the early detection of hearing impairment since 2003, to discover children who suffer from hearing disabilities at birth, and early treatment to reduce their hearing  disability. (QNA)